The Baru Nut: A Brazilian Superfood from the Cerrado
Have you ever heard of the baru nut? This delicious and nutritious nut is a true treasure from the Cerrado, the Brazilian tropical savanna. With an unmatchable flavor and extraordinary nutritional properties, the baru nut is quickly gaining recognition as a superfood. It’s a new nut in the market that is appreciated for being an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, oils, and soluble fiber.
What Makes Baru Nuts a “Superfood”?
The baru nut stands out for its impressive nutritional profile. It has the highest protein content, highest antioxidant capacity, and lowest calorie count compared to other popular nuts like Brazil nuts, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews, and macadamias.
According to the provided data, per 100 grams, baru nuts offer:
- Calories: 499 kcal
- Protein: 21.9g
- Antioxidants (ORAC): 7460 mmol
Baru nuts are also rich in a variety of essential nutrients:
- Omega 9
- Zinc
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
The document’s table places baru nuts in first place for both protein and antioxidants when compared to other popular nuts.
The Story Behind the Nut: Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing
More than just a delicious nut, the baru is a symbol of a powerful sustainability initiative. Empório do Cerrado is the brand of a cooperative called CoopCerrado. This cooperative is a solidarity network that involves over 5,800 families, including family farmers, indigenous peoples, and traditional communities of the Cerrado.
For more than two decades, this network has been working with sustainable management and industrial processing. These initiatives creatively carry out sustainable management, which values the biodiversity of the richest savanna in the world, the Brazilian Cerrado. Furthermore, these efforts also help strengthen forest restoration and enrichment with the baru species. The products are processed safely with organic certifications (Brazil, USA, Europe), and follow fair trade principles.
How to Enjoy Baru Nuts
The baru nut is incredibly versatile and can be used in many ways. It can be enjoyed as a whole, toasted snack. It is also used as an ingredient in the food industry in various forms, such as granulated or flour. You can also find them in creams and pastes to be eaten with bread and toast. Beyond food, the oil from the baru nut is even used in the cosmetics industry to produce shampoos and soaps.